WO1990015774A1

WO1990015774A1 - Beverage dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO1990015774A1
Application number: PCT/US1990/003346
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edward H. Wallington
Original assignee: Plas-Tech, Inc.
Priority date: 1989-06-19
Filing date: 1990-06-19
Publication date: 1990-12-27
Also published as: AU5933890A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a beverage dispensing apparatus. Prior art devices are overly complicated and/or have the problem of undesirable oxygen contamination which destroys the product quality. The present invention provides improved pressurized dispensing of perishable beverages and liquids from a container which is isolated from the pressurizing atmosphere. The dispenser of the invention has a pump (24), an inflatable bag (28), a dispensing tube (40) and a dispensing nozzle (18). The inflatable bag and dispensing tube are sealably located in the container through its outlet. The pump, coupled to the bag through the container outlet, forces air into the inflatable bag causing it to apply pressure against the beverage within the container. When the dispensing nozzle which is connected to the dispensing tube is opened, the beverage is dispensed from the container by displacement as the bag expands.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION:

BEVERAGE DISPENSER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention relates to a beverage dispensing apparatus. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing carbonated and other perishable beverages from a container while preserving a high beverage quality until all of it is dispensed.

The consuming public is reluctant to purchase large packages of carbonated beverages (2 and 3 liters) , even though it is more cost effective to do so, because the product losses its carbonation and flavor after opening if it is not consumed quickly. Other perishable non- carbonated products like fruit juices, beer and wine lose flavor because of oxygen contamination after opening. Large bottles are also heavy and difficult to handle, resulting in spillage and inconvenience.

Carbonated beverages have C0₂ dissolved therein. The amount of CO- dissolved has a direct bearing on the beverage quality perceived by the consumer. Carbonated beverages are unstable, in that, CO- tends to evolve when the liquid is agitated, depressurized or heated. Accordingly, beverages are typically carbonated at relatively low temperatures in order to increase the amount of CO- that goes into solution and then sealed. Any C0₂ which evolves during handling is contained within the sealed container under pressure which tends to maintain the level of carbonation at least until the container is unsealed for the first time by the consumer. When the container is first opened, C0₂ evolves as a result of sudden depressurization and agitation caused by pouring. The initial evolution of C0₂ is usually not deleterious if the beverage is consumed quickly. However, if the container is re- closed for storage and reuse a number of times, the beverage quickly goes flat. In addition, ambient air enters the container after each opening which eventually adversely affects the beverage quality. A number of dispensing systems have used atmospheric air in direct contact with the beverage to apply pressure to the liquid to dispense it from the container. Such systems are undesirable because oxygen contamination quickly destroys the product quality. Other systems provide means for preventing direct contact between the air and the liquid in the container. One such system includes a receptacle having an outlet for its contents and a tubular perforated holder located within the receptacle. An expandable bag or diaphragm which communicates with the outside air is stretched over the holder so as to be held permanently in a distended condition while allowing the air to exert pressure on the liquid through the interposed bag or diaphragm. This system requires a container with a special opening for the perforated tubular holder.

Another example of a dispensing system which attempts to prevent product deterioration by air contamination utilizes a compressed expandable mass, within a flexible bag or behind a strechable membrane and attached to the inside of the beverage container. When compressed within the flexible bag or behind a stretchable membrane, the mass volume represents a small percent of the overall volume of the container. In its relaxed state the compressible mass expands to substantially fill the entire cubic volume of the container. When it is desired to apply pressure to the liquid in the container an external valve allows atmospheric air to enter the bag. The air allows the compressible mass to inflate thereby expanding the flexible bag such, that pressure is applied uniformly to the liquid thus displacing it for dispensing purposes. Yet another example of a dispensing system utilizes an inflatable pressurizing bag inside the container.

Gas generating components within the inflatable bag provide isolated gas displacement and dispensing pressure.

Still another example of a dispensing system incorporates an air displacement bag which can be opened to the atmosphere to allow gravity actuated withdrawal of the beverage from the container through a dispensing assembly with minimal exposure of the beverage to air.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention is designed to avoid and correct the disadvantages and limitations of the described prior arrangements. The invention provides an improved dispenser for perishable beverages and liquids. The dispenser includes a closure for the container, an outlet opening and an inflatable bag which is removably positionable within the container through said outlet opening. A pump having an outlet port is positionable in flow communication with the bag through the closure, such that, the bag may be inflated or pressurized by the pump to displace the liquid within the container. A dispensing channel is positionable in the container outlet opening through the closure. A dispensing nozzle connectable to an outlet end of the dispensing channel is operative when opened, for dispensing the liquid displaced by the inflatable bag.

In accordance with the invention, the liquid in the container is isolated from the pressurizing atmosphere to prevent contamination thereby, and a venting means is provided to depressurize the inflatable bag in order to allow it to be removed from the beverage container and to be reused if desired. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the closure comprises a housing unit supporting the pump, the inflatable bag and the dispensing tube. The housing may be provided with an opening capable of adaptation to a plurality of different sized containers. Means may be provided in the housing which allows a plurality of similar housing units to be stacked one atop the other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

The various objects, advantages and novel features of the invention.will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of the beverage dispenser in accordance with a preferred embodiment the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side sectional elevation of the beverage dispenser in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the beverage dispenser of the present invention which illustrates the loading procedure prior to use;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a plurality of beverage dispensers illustrating their stacking capability;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top sectional view of the pump, the inflatable bag and interconnecting conduit of the dispenser illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the dispenser according to the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side sectional view of the depressurizing release valve of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side sectional elevation similar to Fig. 2 which employs a closure adaptable for a plurality of different containers; and

Fig. 9 is a side sectional view of an extruded two part housing for the beverage dispenser according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of the beverage dispenser 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention with a beverage container 12 inserted therein. It should be understood that the container 12 is not a necessary part of the invention but is typically a disposable container such as a carbonated beverage bottle. As illustrated in Fig. 1, when assembled for operation, the visible external elements of the beverage dispenser 10 include a housing base 14, as well as a housing enclosure 16, a dispensing nozzle 18, a pump handle 20 and an air release valve 22 each of which is connected to the housing base 14. The housing base 14 is employed as a closure for the container 12 and a support for the dispenser components.

The dispenser 10 employs a pump 24, which is manually operated by the pump handle 20, for forcing air from the pump outlet 25 through an air tube 26 connected thereto. An intermediate air channel 27 formed in the housing base 14 is connected to the air tube 26 as shown. An inflatable bag 28 is connected at its open end to the outlet end of the intermediate air channel 27, by an "0" ring. The bag 28 is positionable within the container 12 through its open fluid outlet end 31.

In a preferred embodiment the inflatable bag 28 may be made of any suitably flexble material. Optionally, the material may also have sufficient elasticity to expand contract as it is inflated and deflated. It is also important that the surface of the bag 28 be sufficiently free of surface roughness and sharp edges so as to reduce C0₂ evolution, when dispensing carbonated beverages. For example, the bag 28 should have a surface roughness about the same as the container 12. Examples of suitable compositions include common plastic films, elastomers, thermoplastics and/or blends thereof. Also multilayer composites may be formed. For example, a thin layer of the material which is used to make the container 12 may be formed on an elastomeric or plastic substrate. Also the sharp edge 29 of the open end of the bag 28 engaging air channel 27 should be folded over into the bag 28 as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5. The end 29 may also be beaded if desired. The bag 28 should be inside out so that its closed end 35 and the sharp edge 37 thereof is not in contact with carbonated beverage. One example of an acceptable bottle material is a commercially available nursing bottle bag turned inside out with the open end folded in or beaded. Alternatively, the bag 28 may be sized to fill the volume of the container 12.

A dispensing tube 40 is locatable in the container 12 for establishing flow communication of the liquid 30 with the dispensing nozzle 18. A nipple extention 33 mounted in the housing base 14 interconnects the dispensing tube 40 and the dispensing nozzle 18. The dispensing tube 40 has a clip 41 at its free end for securing the closed end of the bag 28 in place. This facilitates insertion of the bag 28 into the container 12, and avoids bunching of the bag 28 in the head space above the liquid.

After the bag 28 is inserted into the container 12, air is pumped into the bag 28 causing it to inflate thereby pressurizing the liquid contents 30 thereof. See, for example the bag 28 in Fig. 2 shown partially inflated in solid line and more fully inflated in phantom lines.

The outlet end 29 of the intermediate air channel

27 and the nipple extension 33 are mounted within a threaded opening 34 in the housing. The container 12 is reclosed by screwing a threaded portion 36 of the fluid outlet 31 in the threaded opening 34 in the housing 14.

If the bag 28 is sufficiently pressurized, the liquid 30 in the container 12 may be dispensed via the dispensing tube 40, nipple extention 33 and dispensing nozzle 18 as a result of pressure exerted by the bag 28 on the liquid 30. Furthermore, as the liquid 30 is dispensed, the bag 28 expands to displace or make up the volume within container 12 previously occupied by the dispensed liquid.

After a portion of the liquid 30 is dispensed, the pump 12 may be actuated by pump handle 20 to replenish pressurization of the bag 28 thereby maintaining pressure on the liquid 30. In a carbonated beverage, the pressure helps to maintain the CO- in solution. Also because the bag 28 insulates the liquid 30 from the air that displaces it, the beverage 30 remains relatively uncontaminated after the container 12 is opened.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the beverage dispenser 10 of the present invention, which illustrates the loading procedure prior to use. As shown, the housing base 14 and the housing enclosure 16 are separable at a seam 32. The housing base 14 acts as the support for the individual components of the dispenser 10 as previously mentioned.

In the embodiment shown, the pump 24, attached to the housing base 14, is located within the housing enclosure

16 but outside of and adjacent to the container 12 when connected for operation. The threaded opening 34 in the housing base 14 receives the threaded portion 36 of the fluid outlet 31 of the container 12. This threaded opening 34 is preferably located in the center of the housing base 14 as shown. The intermediate air channel 27 (shown in Fig. 1) , connected to the output 25 of the pump 24 via tube 26, is axially located in the threaded opening 34 in the housing base 14. The inflatable air bag 28 is attached at its open end to the outlet end 29 of the intermediate air channel 27. The dispensing tube 40 and nipple extension 33 extend axially through the threaded opening 34 of the housing base 14 adjacent to the inflatable bag 28.

To insert a beverage container 12 into the dispenser 10, the housing base 14 is held directly above the upright open container 12. The housing base 14, the dispensing tube 40 and bag 28, secured to the clip 41, are lowered into the liquid 30 through the container opening 31 (see the arrow 55) . The threaded portion 36 of the container 12 is threaded into opening 34 of the housing base 14 until it sealably recloses the container 12. The housing enclosure 16 is a hollow parallelipiped having at least one open end 41. The beverage container 12 and pump 24 attached to the housing base 14 are positioned within the housing enclosure 16 by insertion into the open end 41 of the housing enclosure 16 as shown in Fig. 3 by the arrow 57. A detent 42 formed in the periphery of the open end 41 of housing enclosure 16 mates with a corresponding groove 45 in the housing base 14 for securing the parts together (see also Fig. 2) .

In the embodiment of the invention as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 6, the top surface 47 of the housing enclosure 16 has indentations 46 located at each of its four corners. The bottom surface 49 of the housing enclosure 16 has projections 48 similarly located at each of its four corners in registration with the indentations 46. The indentations 46 and projections 48 are aligned to allow a number of beverage dispenser units 10 to be securely stacked one on top of another as shown in Fig. 4. This provides for extremely stable and convenient storage within a refrigerator while allowing easy access to the liquid 30. Fig. 5 is a top sectional view of the beverage dispenser 10 illustrating the construction of pump 24 which includes a cylinder 51 and a movable piston 50 positioned therein establishing a compression chamber 53. An actuating shaft 52, attached to. the piston 50, passes through an aperture 54 in the housing base 14. Threaded sleeves 56 at opposite ends of the aperture 54 align the shaft 52 with the cylinder 51 to prevent binding. The pump 24 has a first check valve 58 which operates to allow air to enter the tube 26 from the compression chamber 53 in the direction of arrow 59 for inflating the bag 28. The first check valve 58 prevents back flow of the air which has been forced into the inflatable bag 28. The pump 24 also has a second check valve 60 which mounted in the piston 50. The second check valve 60 admits atmospheric air into the compression chamber 53 within the cylinder 51. The check valves 58 and 60 operate in a known manner to provide one way air flow into bag 28.

In accordance with the invention, the release valve 22 (Fig. 6) which is coupled in flow communication with intermediate air channel 27, is used to vent or deflate the bag 28. The release valve 22 is a normally closed, manually operated valve connected to intermediate air channel 27. When it is desirable to vent the bag 28 in order to allow its removal from the container 12, the release valve 22 is opened allowing air to escape from the bag 28 until it is sufficiently deflated. This allows the deflated bag 28 and the dispensing tube 40 to be removed from the container 12 through its fluid outlet 31 at any time, whether the beverage is completely dispensed or if the user simply desires to change the beverage container. The bag 28 may also be deflated by unscrewing the container 12 from the housing base 14.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side sectional view of the air release valve 22 of the present invention. The release valve 22 is normally closed to atmospheric air as shown in solid lines. The valve 22 has a valve body 63 formed with an opening 65 into which a slidable valve stem 67 is sleeveably located. The valve stem 67 has an internal through channel 69 which extends from inlet gate 71 to outlet port 73. When the release valve 22 is moved to the opened position against the bias of spring 74 and internal air pressure within the bag 28 (Fig. 2) , a flow path 62, illustrated by the phantom lines, between the bag 28 (Fig. 2) and the outlet port 73 is established. The elasticity of the bag 28 causes it to deflate forcing the air therein into the atmosphere.

The valve stem 67 has an annular projection 76 which is slidably located in an annular recess 78 in the valve body 63. The valve stem 76 is movable between stops or limits comprising forward radial surface 79 of the recess 78 and the terminal end 80 of intermediate air channel 27 which is in axial alignment with the valve body 63 as shown. The spring 74 located in the recess spring 78, not only biases the valve stem closed, as noted above, but also further limits the motion of the stem 67 so that the gate 71 does not move too far beyond the center of the air passage 26 so as to block the air path 62. As illustrated in Fig. 8, a stepped threaded adaptor 82 is securable in the threaded opening 34 of the housing 14. The adaptor 82 allows the dispenser 10 of the present invention to be used with containers having different size fluid openings. For example, the threads 34 in the housing base 14 accommodate the container 12 illustrated in Figs. 1-3. The stepped threaded adaptor 82 has concentric threaded portions 84 and 86. The threaded portion 86 is adapted to fit the threaded portion 34 in housing base 14. The threaded portion 84 is adapted to receive the threads of a container 12' which is a different size from the container 12. Thus, various containers may be accommodated without modification to the dispenser 10.

Fig. 9 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a housing 96, which in accordance with the present invention is a two part extrusion shown assembled. The housing 96 has a top half 98 and mating lower half 100. The top half has a cylindrical pump housing 102 for holding the pump 28 and a pair of elongated ribs 104 on its upper exterior surface 106. Male locking members 108 are located along the marginal edge 110 of the upper half 98 of the housing 96.

The lower half 100 of the housing has elongated complementary mating female locking channels 112 at its marginal edges 114 for mating with the male locking members 108. Detent 116 on the male member 108 engages detent 118 in the female member 112 to snap-fit the the halves 98 and 100 together. The lower half 100 has extruded channel portions 120 which extend from lower surface 122. The channels 120 are sized and spaced for engaging ribs 104 so that a plurality of housings 96 may be stacked together. See for example the phantom view in the upper portion of Fig. 9 illustrating the stacking feature wherein the ribs 104 engage channels 120.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, the invention is not limited to the details thereof, and modifications which may occur to those skilled in the art are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS :

1. A dispenser for dispensing liquid from a container having a liquid outlet opening therein comprising: pump means having an air intake port and an air output port; an inflatable bag removably positionable within the container through the outlet opening of the container, said bag being in flow communication with the output port of said pump and being inflatable to thereby displace liquid within the container; a dispensing channel having an inlet end in flow communication with the interior of the container and an outlet end located outside the container; and a dispensing nozzle connected to the outlet end of said dispensing channel and being operable to open the channel for dispensing liquid displaced by the inflatable bag.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a manually activated release valve in flow communication with the bag for releasing air from said bag to allow it to be removable through the opening of the container.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein liquid within the container is isolated from atmosphere for preventing contamination thereby.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the inlet end of said dispensing channel is removably positionable within the container.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the dispenser is reusable by allowing the removal of the dispenser from one container and the reconnection of the dispenser to a different container.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a housing securable to the opening of the container.

7. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein said housing includes screw-type securing means for securing said housing to the outlet opening of the container.

8. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein said housing includes adaptor means capable of securing the housing to a plurality of different sized container openings.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein said adaptor means includes a plurality of screw-type securing means of different sizes arranged concentrically such that the opening of the container is securable to said housing by screwing the opening of the container into the appropriate size securing means.

10. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein said housing has a top surface and a bottom surface with means for securing the top surface of one dispenser to the bottom surface of another dispenser such that a plurality of dispensers may be stacked one atop the other.

11. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the means for securing the top of one dispenser to the bottom of another dispenser comprises at least one rib extending from one dispenser and channel extending from the other dispenser for alignment with the rib.

12. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the rib and channel are extruded with the housing.

13. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein the housing comprises of confronting half portion, including means for securing the half portions together.

14. The dispenser of claim 13 wherein the means for securing the half portions together comprises a male locking portion on one half portion and a female locking channel on the other half portion for engaging the male portion on the other.

15. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein the male and female portions include locking detents for locking the male and female portions together in snap-fit relation.

16. The dispenser of claim 15 wherein the housing includes an integral pump housing for receiving the pump means therein.

17. The dispenser of claim 16 wherein the bag is relatively smooth.

18. The dispenser of claim 17 wherein portions of the bag having relatively sharp edges are located internally thereby for preventing gaseous evolution from the beverage.

19. A method of dispensing a liquid from a container having an outlet opening comprising the steps of: a) inserting an inflatable bag into the outlet opening of the container; b) recapping the container with a cover; c) pumping air into the inflatable bag through the cover for creating a pressure against liquid within the container; d) opening a dispensing nozzle in flow communication with the liquid through the cover for dispensing the liquid using pressure exerted by the expansion of the bag.